help me please!

[Lolo888]

I have ibs and I have this problem that i spend 1 hour every day in the toilet just wipe and wipe endlessly just to feel clean and after that i use a bidet but idk its been sometimes i feel like people smell a bad oder from me but from my side i dont smell anything i m scared because its hard to smell our self so any one else has this problem maybe i m being paranoïa but 1 hours is too much its not normal

[Luisa22]

In a much smaller way than you're going through, I can relate.

I noticed the other day that after cleaning myself and washing the area, in a super hygienic way that never actually means I get anything dirty on my hands, that I always wash and scrub my hands more than is necessary.

I hadn't noticed I am doing that, but did notice the other day. At least twice, sometimes 4 times.

I used to always wash my hands well, but just once, before I had IBS.

My skin is drying up.

Then I stopped to listen.

Somehow we are all conditioned to think and feel that body functions are dirty. REALLY dirty.

Now sure, we have to be hygienic, but that "dirty" sense of self can seep inside us and make a mark.

I realised that what I'm doing is no more dirty than it ever was when I never thought about it, and just washed my bum, washed my hands well with warm water and soap and got on with my day.

IBS can really do a number on us psychologically.

Yes, washing yourself for 1 hour is a bit too much.

I get it, But one good thing is you've noticed it and questioned yourself. Cut down the time a bit if possible. Could you set a little alarm for 5 or 10 minutes?, and try to be kinder to yourself (I know...easier said than done.)

Oh and..if you are washing your butt hole for 1 hour, the skin there is sensitive, so that will damage it and could even lead to infection, Wash maybe a couple of times then apply an emollient cream like aloe vera, That smells fresh too. If you don't want to touch with bare hand, use a lightweight surgical glove.

[MargaritaNiko]

Hello, I’m not sure I this will help so just throwing it out there but you can buy Andrex wet wipe type things which are flushable. I got them from Bodycare but I imagine they sell them all over the place. I keep them in my bag at all times and if I’m going through a bad IBS period they do help. Good luck! x

[iloveglee in reply to MargaritaNiko]

Andrex wet wipes are lovely but please don’t flush them. They are not flushable despite what the pack says. There is no such thing as a flushable wipe. 3 things only in toilet. Pee, poo and paper

[MargaritaNiko in reply to iloveglee]

Oh no worries. I actually use them more as baby wipes anyway so I’ve been binning them, I was just going off the packaging. Thanks for clarifying.

[Frasina]

Others will not smell anything untoward about you. You just need to realise that once you have wiped properly any smell will disappear. Toilets are confined spaces so we all smell our stools! Just be careful about wiping so much as it will cause soreness etc..

[Vaticana55]

I’m so sorry for you… but I strongly suspect you are worrying excessively, and that your fear of being ‘smelly’ is due to being so anxious. These bowel conditions, particularly those involving a lot of diarrhoea, make you feel unacceptable and disgusting. I experience this fear, but I’m getting it under control. Please believe that once you have cleaned and washed, you are clean. Try to relax, meditate, pray, deep breathing, whatever helps you feel more calm. It does help. You’re not alone with this horrible condition.

[Edgar77]

No one is closer to you or spends more time with you than you do. So if you can't smell anything I'm sure they sertainly can't, and yes we do get used to our own scent but NOT body waste.!